KOTA KINABALU:
Papar independent candidate Datuk Patrick Sindu yesterday refuted claims by PKR Sabah chief Haji Ansari Abdullah that he was among nine PKR members facing disciplinary action for contesting as independent candidate. Patrick stressed that after leaving Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), he has never joined any other political party. “It is wrong for Ansari, who is a friend, to say I am a member of PKR,” he said yesterday. Patrick and two other candidates are challenging incumbent MP Rosnah Abd Rashid Shirlin of Barisan Nasional in the Papar parliamentary constituency in the March 8 general election. The others are Wahab Idris from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and another independent Mohd Hashim Yussup. He said Ansari should have thoroughly checked his facts and as an experienced lawyer, the latter knows the consequences of not telling the truth to the public, especially so during the election time. “He is a friend of mine ... I don’t want to jeopardise his participation in this election,” said Patrick. The President of Consumers Association for Sabah and Labuan (CASH) kick-started his campaign trial in Papar yesterday, using the extensive network of his family members to woo voters in the state seats of Pantai Manis and Kawang, which make up the Papar constituency. “I am already busy campaigning here in Papar,” said Patrick, who pledged to speak up for Sabahans, in particular the people in Papar, in the Parliament if he wins in the election. “I can voice out the problems affecting our fellow Sabahans directly in the Parliament without going through the political parties and their leaders who have failed to live up to their promises all this while.” Commenting on the recently launched BN election manifesto, Patrick said it is “an old story and merely a political gimmick”. He said the BN is talking about the old issues and promises made in the 2004 general election that have yet to be fulfilled by the ruling coalition. “Now, about four years later, the BN is coming up with yet another gimmick,” said Patrick who rated his chances of wresting the seat as very good.
